Irving in Dallas County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

M-A-L Hobby Shop

Photographed by Morgan Petermann, December 20, 2024

1. M-A-L Hobby Shop Marker

Inscription. Edgar Seay, Dr., opened M-A-L (Model Aircraft Laboratories) Hobby Shop at this location on Lee St. in 1948. Born in Arkansas in 1909, Seay grew up fascinated with airplanes. He carved models and sold his first, the Spirit of St. Louis, in 1927. In 1932, he rode a motorcycle from Arkansas to a Detroit air show, where he took orders from over 400 airplane owners to create scale models of their planes.

In 1935, Seay moved to Dallas to work for Golden Aircraft Corp., a model airplane company. Here he learned to cut balsa wood, a skill he used for the rest of his career. He also worked at Dallas Aviation School at Love Field, where he trained civilians and Air Corps cadets in flight theory and aircraft maintenance. Seay married Mildred Taylor in 1938.

After WWII, Seay continued to create models. His balsa wood glider and rubber-band-powered planes were very popular. The Seay family moved to Irving in 1948 and opened the hobby shop. Mildred ran the store during the day for ten years while Edgar worked nights at Chance Vought.

For decades, Edgar Seay cut balsa wood and made kits under his M-A-L brand. From this site,

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M-A-L Hobby Shop has catered to generations of model aircraft enthusiasts.

Erected 2011 by City of Irving and Irving Heritage Society.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • Industry & Commerce.

Location. 32° 48.827′ N, 96° 56.23′ W. Marker is in Irving, Texas, in Dallas County. It is on Lee Street north of E Irving Blvd, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 108a Lee St, Irving TX 75060, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Prairies & Lakes Region

and in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metropolitan Area.

Globally, it is in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the Republic of Texas,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: South Delaware Church of Christ (approx. 0.4 miles away); St. Luke Catholic Church

Photographed by Morgan Petermann, December 20, 2024

2. M-A-L Hobby Shop Marker

(approx. 0.4 miles away); School Campus (approx. 0.4 miles away); Randle Clock Tower (approx. half a mile away); Main Street, Irving, Texas (approx. half a mile away); Union Bower Community (approx. half a mile away); Sowers Community (approx. half a mile away); Bear Creek Community (approx. half a mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Irving.

Credits. This page was last revised on December 31, 2024. It was originally submitted on December 30, 2024, by Morgan Petermann of Hurst, Texas. This page has been viewed 244 times since then and 40 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on December 30, 2024, by Morgan Petermann of Hurst, Texas. • James Hulse was the editor who published this page.